Intel Doubles Up For Low-Power Servers

Intel today revealed the industry’s first dual processing capabilities for thin, low-power “ultra-dense” blade servers.

Dual processor systems containing the new Low Voltage Intel® Pentium® III processors at 800 MHz offer up to 63 percent* higher performance versus their single processor counterparts. They also offer new server-centric improvements including large memory support of up to four gigabytes.

“Ultra-dense” blade servers typically contain the highest number of processors possible based on the lowest size and thermal requirements. The systems are popular with Internet service providers and others that place a unique emphasis on lowering energy and real estate costs. The systems are typically used for tasks such as Web hosting and firewall protection.

“Ultra-dense” blade servers are part of the overall server blade market, which is marked by servers containing multiple motherboards stacked either vertically or horizontally, much like books in a bookcase. Larger blade servers are optimised for maximum performance in high-density configurations.

“Today’s announcement for dual-processing in ‘ultra-dense’ servers increases the capabilities for this emerging market segment,” said Richard Dracott, director, Intel Enterprise Platforms Group. “These systems offer significant real estate, performance and power benefits versus single processor systems.”

System Specifications
Each processor inside of the new dual processor systems contains 512 KB of on-chip level 2 cache memory (very fast memory). They are also the first Intel-based “ultra-dense” dual processing chips to support faster PC 133 SDRAM memory and a 133 MHz system bus.

Due to their dual processing configurations, the new platforms received heavy testing in Intel’s enterprise validation labs. They also contain reliability features such as error correcting code and remote manageability tools.

The processors are produced in high volumes on Intel’s 0.13-micron manufacturing process, an advanced process that enables low voltages. The chips come in Intel’s uFCBGA package, the latest packaging technology for smaller systems such as high-density servers.

New blade server systems from Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens and other major OEMs are expected later this year. System pricing varies by manufacturer.

Applied Computing Systems

New dual processor motherboards based on the processors are also immediately available from applied computing companies such as Force Computers, I-Bus/Phoenix and Kontron. They are aimed at applications that require extended life-cycle support in the communications, transportation, automation, medical and military market segments, among others. Specifically, the boards are optimal for security, storage, telephony and wireless applications. These environments often require small, thermally sensitive processors that can provide sustained concurrency, higher throughput and data reliability.

ENDS

About Intel
Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.

*Results based on 3rd party tests from eTesting Labs running WebBench 4.0.1. System configuration based on two processors, Windows 2000 Server and PC133 SDRAM memory. Results can be viewed at: http://www.etestinglabs.com/main/reports/intel.asp.
**Other names and brands may be claimed as property of others. Intel and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademark of Intel Corporation or it subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

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